The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority. The spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) made the following announcement today (July 16): A 19-year-old patient hospitalised in… read more
​Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels in July. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $80 million was seized.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Strategies were thus formulated, with two suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to the United States and one suspicious container scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Korea selected for inspection on July 9 and 11 respectively.
Upon examination, Customs officers found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including refrigerants, perfumes and lighters, in the two containers destined for the United States. The two containers were declared as carrying “mat, bottle” and “storage bag, bottle” respectively. Also, a large batch of suspected smuggled electronic products, including touch screens, oximeters and electronic parts, was seized in the container departing for Korea declared as carrying “plastic gloves and other rubbers”.
Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the front line. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, with targeted anti-smuggling operations carried out at suitable times to disrupt these activities.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
The Department of Health (DH) today (July 16) released the Thematic Report on Iron Status (Population Health Survey (PHS) 2020-22), which presents the iron status of the general population of Hong Kong. The survey revealed that women of reproductive age (aged 15 to 49) have a higher prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) than men and women of post-menopausal age (aged 50 to 84), similar to that of relevant studies in high-income countries. Women of reproductive age are advised to pay special attention to their diet to ensure adequate iron intake.
Conducted between November 2020 and February 2022, the PHS 2020-22 comprises a household survey and a health examination. With regard to the health examination, apart from the earlier announced iodine status, biochemical testing of blood for haemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin (SF) were included for the first time to assess the iron status of the local population (aged 15 to 84).
A spokesman for the DH said that iron is vital for oxygen transport and cellular functions of the human body. Inadequate iron intake or excessive iron loss (e.g. during menstruation for female) can both lead to ID. A prolonged deficiency may result in iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), causing fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance, as well as affecting cognitive functions in children. IDA in early pregnancy is associated with increased risks of preterm labour, a low birthweight baby, and infant mortality.
Based on recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), SF was adopted as the indicator to assess the local prevalence of ID, and a cut-off value of below 15 μg/L was used for defining ID among healthy adolescents and adults. Anaemia was defined as Hb levels lower than 12 g/dL in women and lower than 13 g/dL in men according to the WHO. IDA was defined in individuals who were found to have both ID and anaemia.
The survey results revealed that the prevalence of ID among the local population aged 15 to 84 was about 5.7 per cent, whereas that for women of reproductive age (aged 15 to 49) reached 17.5 per cent. The prevalence of men and women of post-menopausal age was 0.7 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively. Also, a remarkable difference in the prevalence of IDA between men (0.3 per cent) and women (6.4 per cent) was observed. Prevalence of IDA was higher among women of reproductive age (10.6 per cent) than women of post-menopausal age (2.1 per cent).
The ID prevalence of the local population in Hong Kong (including women of reproductive age) falls within 5.0 to 19.9 per cent (i.e. 5.7 per cent for local population and 17.5 per cent for the aforementioned women of reproductive age) and is classified as a “mild magnitude of public health problem” according to the WHO guidelines on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status. Also, the local findings of a higher prevalence of ID and IDA among women of reproductive age are similar to that of relevant studies in high income countries, and are believed to be due to their regular and heavy menstrual blood loss.
To follow up on the iron levels of the public, the DH has set up the Working Group on Prevention of Iron Deficiency, comprising experts from the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine, the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians, the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Hong Kong College of Pathologists, the Hong Kong College of Physicians, and the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service. The Working Group has reviewed the key findings of this study and the latest scientific evidence. For asymptomatic individuals at average risk of ID, there is no evidence in supporting routine screening for ID or universal iron supplementation. The following joint recommendations were made on iron intake:
In general, adequate iron intake can be achieved by a healthy balanced diet with iron-rich food. Women of reproductive age have a higher risk of iron loss during menstruation and hence a higher daily requirement for iron. They should pay particular attention to their diet to ensure adequate iron intake.
1. Consume iron-rich food:
Further to the external merchandise trade statistics in value terms for May 2024 released earlier on, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 16) the volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for that month.
In May 2024, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 9.8% and 5.9% respectively over May 2023.
Comparing the first five months of 2024 with the same period in 2023, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 7.8% and 3.2% respectively.
Comparing the three-month period ending May 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods increased by 0.9%, while the volume of imports of goods decreased by 1.9%.
Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
Comparing May 2024 with May 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 4.5% and 3.4% respectively.
As regards price changes in the first five months of 2024 over the same period in 2023, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 4.3% and 4.1% respectively.
Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2023, the index increased by 1.0% in May 2024 and 0.2% in the first five months of 2024.
Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
Comparing May 2024 with May 2023, increases were recorded for the total export volume to Vietnam (31.2%), the USA (21.3%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (15.8%). On the other hand, the total export volume to Taiwan (-2.6%) and India (-14.3%) decreased.
Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to the Mainland (6.5%), the USA (5.9%), Taiwan (4.9%) and Vietnam (0.6%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 1.2%.
Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
Comparing May 2024 with May 2023, increases were recorded for the import volume from Korea (48.6%), Singapore (25.5%) and the Mainland (5.8%). On the other hand, the import volume from Japan (-1.0%) and Taiwan (-7.2%) decreased.
Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from Singapore (6.7%), Korea (6.3%), the Mainland (3.6%) and Taiwan (2.9%) increased. On the other hand, the import prices from Japan decreased by 0.1%.
Further information
Details of the above statistics are published in the May 2024 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230).
Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918). read more
In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on July 15 to noon today (July 16), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 115 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24 to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 68 107 samples of food imported from Japan (including 43 768 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 16 244 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more